Chapter 11: The Opening.

They were up practically all night. They were up until the early hours of the morning searching the box, trying to figure out how to open it, desperately wanting to know what was inside. Like usual Fabian was up researching online. His research wasn't done as quick though because the burning sensation on his hand was causing him to type much slower. Eddie was constantly looking at the box in great detail, trying to find a way to open it up. The others, Patricia, Alfie and KT simply spent the night shinning torches on the box whilst following orders when there was something else for them to do. They had found nothing though and eventually had to go to bed for a few hours sleep before they all passed out from exhaustion.

It was Wednesday morning and after having practically no sleep at all Eddie managed to force himself out of bed. He placed his slippers onto his feet, yawned and stretched twice, then itched his head lightly before proceeding out of his bedroom door, on his way to the boy's bathroom to get changed for school. Eddie was completely stressed out and feeling totally drained. He had no idea how he was supposed to solve this mystery but he also knew that this was the mystery that he desperately needed to solve, now more than ever. His little Sisters life depended on it. Once he was dressed for school, Eddie made his way into the dining room, only to find that he was the only resident who was up and awake. Well him and Erica that was but she technically isn't a resident. She's a visitor.

"Good morning" Erica greeted Eddie as he took a seat down next to her.

"Morning" Eddie murmured back tiredly.

"Wow. You're tired" Erica commented.

"Extremely, I couldn't sleep" Eddie replied.

"Is there something on your mind?" she asked.

"Erm no not really" he lied.

"So why couldn't you sleep?" Erica questioned.

"Insomnia I guess" Eddie shrugged, causing Erica to frown. "Anyway how are after Dads little visit yesterday?" He asked as an excuse to change the subject and because he also wanted to make sure that she was okay.

Erica went quiet for a moment, not sure how she was supposed to get out what she needed to say. Her mouth went slightly dry from the worry about how Eddie would take her next few words. So she slowly opened her mouth and carefully began to talk.

"He's not my Dad Eddie" Erica told him. She stopped there for a moment as she watched the confusion appear across Eddie's face. He looked as puzzled as a jigsaw. "Well he is my Dad but to him he isn't. I think I realised last night that I need to try and move on from the fact that my Father doesn't want me" she explained, voice breaking a little. "I'll always have hope though" she assured him, wiping away the tears from her eyes. "You should be happy Eddie, you're wanted" she added with a weak smile which was meant to be sincere.

"Erica" Eddie started, completely shocked by her words.

"Oh my God!" KT instantly screamed as she and Patricia entered the room.

"What is it?" Eddie snapped slightly.

"It's nothing" KT frowned.

"I'm going to go back upstairs now. Have a good day at school" Erica told Eddie.

"Erica he might change his mind" Eddie replied.

"I don't think he will" she sighed as she left the room.

Eddie groaned slightly and let his head hit the table. This whole situation was stressing him out and he didn't know how to fix it, which just made his stress levels worse. It was clear to him and everyone else that Erica was still upset, maybe she always will be. At least she would always hope…surely that could be enough, right? Eddie certainly had hope that Mr. Sweet would come around and want Erica in his life; he always seems to come around to things eventually.

"Eddie are you-"Patricia started.

"Guys it's her ring" KT exclaimed, cutting off Patricia.

"What about her ring?" Patricia questioned.

"Her ring opens the box; just like that locket opens up the oven to the cellar. There is an imprint of something on the box and I'm positive that it's Erica's ring" she explained. "We have to get the ring off of her" she added.

"KT she hasn't taken that ring off since the day she put it on, there is no way she would let us have it" Eddie told her.

"She trusts you, surely she would let you borrow it" KT replied.

"No I don't think so" Eddie disagreed. "She would know something is up. I haven't taken an interest in it before; she would want to know why I'm taking an interest now" he told her.

"Patricia she trusts you the most out of the rest of us" KT told her.

"No way, I'm not stealing her ring" Patricia refused.

"That's not like you" KT commented, causing Patricia to scowl at her.

"Please" Eddie begged.

"Fine" she muttered.

….

After eating breakfast there was still fifteen minutes before everyone had to leave for school. So Sibuna saw it as a chance to try and become successful in the next part of their quest. Patricia walked extra quick up the stairs, missing out every other step in an attempt for Victor not to catch her going up into the spare room in the attic that Erica was staying in. If he did, he would probably know that something was up. When Patricia reached the attic, Erica was sat on her bed with her laptop, scanning through something online.

"Hey" Patricia interrupted her.

"Hey, what are you doing up here?" Erica asked.

"Erm, I just wanted to see if you wanted to borrow another movie before I went off to school" she lied as she sat down next to Erica.

"No thanks, I've got loads of school work to do" Erica replied and Patricia nodded.

"That's a pretty ring" Patricia commented.

"Thanks" Erica muttered.

"Can I try it on?" Patricia asked carefully.

"No way!" Erica exclaimed. "I haven't taken this ring off since the day I put it on" she snapped and with that Eddie heard a voice say "twenty five days" as he waited downstairs.

….

The school day went by and the sun eventually went down and the moon came out for the night. After Patricia's failed attempt of getting Erica's ring earlier, Sibuna had hatched another plan at school. The plan was to steal it while she was sleeping. It was just gone two in the morning and KT and Patricia were layed silently awake in their beds.

"Do you think she'll be asleep yet?" KT asked Patricia quietly.

"I hope so" Patricia whispered, not wanting to wake up Joy. "I'm falling asleep myself" she added.

"Let's go" KT told her as they both got out of their beds, trying their best not to make a sound.

With a few creeks of the floor boards and trying to find their way in the pitch black dark, the girls finally made their way up to the top of the attic stairs. They crept ever so quietly to the edge of Erica's bed, only to find a surprise.

"Why isn't she in her bed? Where is she?" KT asked, panicking slightly.

The sound of a light switching on occurred and a small light from a table lamp filled the left side of the room. As Patricia and KT turned their heads, Erica was sat there in one of the chairs.

"Why are you in my room?" Erica asked.

A/N: I am SO sorry for not updating in a month. I feel bad but I just haven't had the time. School has just taken over my whole life at the moment, it's unbelievable. I'll think to myself "Oh I can update today" then I go to school and get set an essay or something then have to change my plans. So I'm sorry about the lack of updates, I'll try my best to start updating more frequently again but there's no promises. I hope you all understand.

Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter, please review this one, especially if your still interested in this story. Thank you! x